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Reviews

Reviewer:c-freedom
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May 29, 2018 Subject:
Maybe I will meet you on the run...

Set one strong out of the gate but returns to earth with some lyric flubs in Jack Straw--Jerry winded vocally but not on Guitar--- tunes toward end of set more compact.
Factor in a grinding tour schedule
Set two-Good God Almighty continuing the bliss that is May 77 From Estimated>Sat Night---- it's a steam locomotive p.s.-Hartford Civic = lot of character

Just listened to this show and it has everything I remember about how magical a Dead concert could be when they were clicking on all cylinders- and that they were on this date.
The set list was amazing and some of the best versions of many personal favorites.
I cannot find the ticket stub after all these years but unlike the other chap from Simsbury was old enough, on college break, and working just couple of blocks away from the venue so I cannot imagine having missed it as that fell during my catch them every time they played Hartford, Springfield, or New Haven.. Either way I'm going to buy a copy.

Reviewer:hitmeister
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August 25, 2016 Subject:
The Dead at their Best

This is one of my all-time favorite Dead shows. The whole Spring '77 tour was great, and this one was a fitting climax. From the monster Bertha/Good Lovin'/Sugaree medley opener through the encore, the intensity never let up. This Sugaree is the longest and arguably the best ever. The Row Jimmy is also one of the best I've heard, with Jerry really making that slide guitar sing.

The second set is Dead jamming the way it was meant to be. The Estimated is all-out, the Playin' is spacey, and the Terrapin is sizzling. But for me, the real highlight is the NFA->Wharf Rat. The transition jam between the two songs is a thing of sheer beauty, and Wharf Rat, while lacking a wild guitar solo, is a prototypical version nonetheless; just exactly perfect.

When they return from Space, they really rock out on the Playin' reprise. OMSN isn't one of my favorite Dead songs, but here, it feels like an unexpected bonus, and it's as good a version as you'll ever hear. The US Blues encore is full of energy.

And the recording is top-notch.

Reviewer:Petronius Jablonski
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May 1, 2014 Subject:
I Will Believe You

Some call them trance versions, where the Prophet mesmerizes you. Here’s one. The long and winding Jam stands as a paradigm of Great Trippy Dead Music. Deja vu and nostalgia arise, even though the passage of music is unique, as though it partakes of some deeper commonality perceived only in flashes. To describe Garcia’s guitar in the latter half of the song raises baffling issues about the Private Language Argument. You’re lost in a cave where bright water drips from the stalactites and you don’t know how you got here or where you’re going. Until the Prophet returns to guide you out at the end. (Should I rethink my view that Estimated improved with time? Nor did Everest.)

Just magnificent. A fitting finale to what may be their greatest tour (unless you count the June Winterland shows....) and a testament to the band at the pinnacle of their art.

There are too many highlights to count, but let me put a gld star next to, of course, that Sugaree in the first set as well as some pretty wild slide work in Minglewood.

Set 2 has Bobby perfectly timing his 'great-god-almighty' in Samson, and Jed, man, Jed! Some amazing work between Jer and Bobby late into the tune. The suite to follow is just beyond words, Estimated taken out for a LONG walk and the dark, intense Playin' being the cornerstone.

There's a good reason why this show was officially released before so many of the others from this tour. "To Terrapin" sounds great, but I'm sure the many boards here can be found without too much difficulty...

Reviewer:Slarti
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November 22, 2011 Subject:
"Tennessee Jed, I'm not really a fan of this song until Hornsby gets his hands on it."

Well, so are a lot of shows. I like to take any opportunity I can to mention how over-rated that show is...all in good fun of course.

Anyway, this Bertha-> Good Lovin'-> Sugaree
Is an incendiary opener. Just power packed playing through Good Lovin' and then the GD version of Sugaree that stands a top the mountain. 21+ minutes for those of you wondering. There is great back forth from all the players on this night and sugaree is a brilliant example. I'll also add that, typically I find 78 berthas to be more effective than 77, despite the flubs..I love the thickness and thumpyness of a 77 Bertha, but sometimes it caused it to lag..This one is the perfect symbiosis. It's quick, it's thick, and everything else. One of my favorite versions post 72.

Very nice Jack Straw, has a bit more umph than others from the period. Very sweet Row Jimmy, typical 77 style. Minglewood Blues is a song I don't like to be anywhere but the set opener, this is my only issue with the show - but really, that's just f-ing picky. Solid version all the same. I'm a much bigger fan of post coma Candymans, but this one has something in it...very touching rendition. Jerry adds subtle flares here and there; if you listen close you'll catch it. Passenger, is what it is. Donna sounds good though. Brown Eyed Women, this was THE YEAR for this tune. How does this version stack up? Well, it's slowed down a bit from the earlier may versions, however, the power notes from Garcia are similar to a real big good lovin' solo. Halfway through the only thing keeping this from settling in to #2 behind Cornell is Keith...But Garcia vocals may make up for that anyway. I would venture to say this is the pinnacle of him singing of the song. It is just right. The version is flowing thick, and Keith is chopping into it in an unproductive way. Still a great version. Real fun Promised Land to close, nothing special, just the right choice for the set.

Set II:
Samson & Delilah - falters at the gate with Jer's rig turned way down. Even after turning up his tone is still off. That said, Weir sound incredible and the harmonies are incredible. Again, Jer's tone is off. Tennessee Jed, I'm not really a fan of this song until Hornsby gets his hands on it. Sure, there are plenty of nice versions, just saying its good, you be the judge

Du Da Dumm

Here we go with some of the most thoughtful and exploratory jamming of the year...maybe the most. The Estimated Prophet is very solid, and then jam gets going nicely. They had just started using it as a segment starter and it's nice to hear them drop it seamlessly into a SCORCHING! Playing In The Band. Let me say again, scorching, and it gets out there. Bobby is teasing the opening Terrapin riff 30 seconds into the jam, but they go on a nice trip before landing, just effortlessly on Lady. The Terrapin Station is sweet and strong, but the all star piece is still to come. The Not Fade Away-> Wharf Rat-> Playin' In The Band-> One More Saturday Night is just the best segment of real fly by the seat of your pants GD jamming post 1976. They are taking chances, leaving the familiar far in the rear(something not typical of 77 despite the rumors) Listen specifically to the NFA, it is transcendent. The more I think about it, the more I want to say this is the best show of the year. Maybe one of those October lovelies...when you hit the 16 minute mark of the NFA you are so far gone from normalcy the thought of another "song" just seems silly and then it all comes silently crashing down and suddenly..wharf rat. On which Jerry sounds magnificent. A little extra beat put in before the move to fly away just...makes it for me.

The entry back to Playing is more reminiscent of 74 than 77. Thematic and varied simultaneously. I think what really does it on this night is that mickey and billy have stepped way past their 77 thick groove style and pushed the jams via Billy led jazz session. I don't know why, or how mickey keeps it together this night, but he does, and does so well. The way into Saturday is also packed with energy, great way to end a phenomenal set.

The song selection in this set is spectacular. The Saturday night closer exemplifies it perfectly. The opening notes evoke a feeling similar to what it must feel like to step outside as a hurricane moves into the distance and watch the sunrise and be happy just to be there. (Obvious hyperbole, but you get the idea. :)

The stand-out thing about this recording is the quality of the mix, which lets us enjoy every part of the band - and in particular the keyboards. Keith is a match for Jerry throughout the show, and songs like 'Sugaree' and 'Terrapin' really show it off. Other reviews here have commented on the drums being really hot too. A prime example of this band being greater than the sum of the parts, and a lot more than just one guitarist.

Reviewer:sugareesalibi
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May 1, 2009 Subject:
good show

This is a good show from a great spring run. This show is about to be released so download it while you can (unless you absolutely must have a hard copy).

beautiful playin..
Iam a sucker for Jerry's slower ballads esp in this 5-77 time period.
Row Jimmy,Love Each Other,Comes a Time,Peggy-O-and the 3 High Time's they did were all cream of the crop in Dead history.

ps I thought I was the only one who doesn't care for Minglwood or Tennesse Jed. Although I loved Brents mean B-3 solos on Minglewood.

Yep...the boys finish with another strong performance in what may be the greatest month of live music in the history of rock'n'roll. This show says it all for May 1977. It may not be my favorite show of May 1977...but it is a great finish to the month. With the first notes of Bertha, you know it is gonna be awesome! Thank the lord for 1977 Grateful Dead. Thanks to the band for the music!

Something about New England on this tour, they always pulled out the stops. This Sugaree is masterful. I especially like Keith's work on the second jam, and Jerry's guitar work through the third jam is great. This one doesn't quite have the power and energy of 5/22/77 that puts it into the next level, but good nonetheless.
The Rhythm Devils are hammering out of Terrapin Station into Not Fade Away. Listen to the crowd go nuts as they jam into NFA. The Playing reprise is a nice touch. They all kind of bring it real low, then bring the energy way up as they jam through the end of the song into OMSN.

Yet another blockbuster from this tour. I have heard all the others and in most cases you have to go to the subatomic level in order to nit pick and decide which one is the best - They all are!! This is no different and they way they bang these notes out make it sound like this vibe will last forever.

I can't say enough good things about this show. It actually is my second favorite from May 77 and one of my favorite shows overall. Where do I begin? The whole First set smokes! Sugaree is a thing of beauty, Jack Straw is intense and the Passenger rocks! My favorite part about this show is the Second set. Estimated>Playin'>Terrapin can convert any non-believer to a full Head. Just listen and tell me this is not some of the sickest Dead you have ever heard. I fully recommend this one. You will not be disappointed. Peace

so, this Estimated Prophet is one of my all time faves. for some reason i seem to be listening to this and Promised Land more than any others in this show. during Estimated it almost sounds as if Jerry is just blowing on his guitar. so smooth and soothing for some reason. the notes just float out of his guitar, this his enhanced by the wonderful quality of this recording. The PITB jam segment is a bit too slow for my style, but some people really dig on the "gooey" stuff my rating is for the sound only, not a huge fan of the setlist, but thats like my opinion boieee. 4.5 stars.

so, this Estimated Prophet is one of my all time faves. for some reason i seem to be listening to this and Promised Land more than any others in this show. during Estimated it almost sounds as if Jerry is just blowing on his guitar. so smooth and soothing for some reason. the notes just float out of his guitar, this his enhanced by the wonderful quality of this recording. The PITB jam segment is a bit too slow for my style, but some people really dig on the "gooey" stuff my rating is for the sound only, not a huge fan of the setlist, but thats like my opinion boieee. 4.5 stars.

Thank God for Betty Boards... this isn't the best show of May '77, but the fact that it's a Betty Board makes it better. Solid show. They really burned it up in May, but really the whole year. If only they'd had Betty there recording them every year.

One of the spacier playin' in the bands-- will make you feel like you are in a time warp swimming through jello!!!
rest of show is solid, but nothing spectacular--i give this a 4 out of 5 because too many shows are rated 5 stars and they should only be for elite--
even so, this is still may 77' which kicks hard!!

This show is really hot!!! The first string of numbers are perfectly played and include one of the better Sugaree(which is hard to say w/ so many goods ones on this tour). The rest of the set definately does not let up either. The second set opens up as strong as the first and before you know it you're in the middle of a nice segue-fest. Words can't really describe the awesome Estimated>Playin>Terrapin >NFA>Wharf>Playin>OMSN jam. Definately worth downloading.